PYCC Countries and Territories

Green Fee in Palau discussed at climate change roundtable

10/23/2009

Majuro, Marshall Islands, 23 October - The Republic of Palau has introduced and passed a Green Fee Law to go towards enhancing their terrestrial and marine Protected Areas. In September this year right before its Independence day legislation was passed which called for the Fee to be paid as part of the departure tax payment.

The announcement of the fee at the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in the Marshall Islands drew strong interest from fellow Pacific countries.

As of 1 November upon departure of Palau there will be an added payment of USD15 on top of the departure tax now in place. All funds will go towards a trust fund which becomes part of the national budget appropriations for conserving and preserving Protected Areas in Palau.

“At the Convention on Biological Diversity Convention in 2007 Palau launched the Micronesia Challenge. It was after the launching of the initiative in Curitiba that we decided to look into way to support our goals toward financing sustainable development in our national policies and hoped we’d get more support from our donors in turn,” said Ngedikes Olai Uludong, National Environment Planner Office of Environmental Response and Coordination of the Office of the President.

Several years of planning and nation wide consultation took place, which called for flexibility as several events took place. A survey for tourists was conducted as well as amendments in the original proposed green fee and changes in scope of funding to include the general protected areas scenario and not just those in the network. Palau has now launched the fee with much support.

Although payment comes into effect on 1 November 2009, the fund will be given time to grow before it is used towards conservation efforts.

“I’m very happy about this fee. This is what we strive towards – sustainable development and financing. It’s a small step towards our own national input towards funding conservation in Palau, we are a small nation and will always rely on donors and our main industry which is tourism but we wanted to have our own national financing as at the end of the day it is all about preserving our resources.”

 

Contact Name:	Nanette Woonton
E-mail:	nanettew@sprep.org
Phone:	(685) 21929
Fax:	(685) 20231